"The time came to get some opinions on it and all the surgeons I saw were singing from the same hymn sheet. That gave me confidence that it did need doing.

"I've felt it during collisions, whether I've been in control of them or not.

"It hasn't been dangerous, but you go down because your arm doesn't work which means you're not much good to your team."

In a statement on their club website, Leinster said: "It has been confirmed that Brian O'Driscoll will undergo surgery next week for a trapped nerve in his shoulder which is expected to rule the Ireland captain out for up to six months."

The loss of the Dublin man will be a huge loss for Leinster in their bid to retain their Heineken Cup.

O’Driscoll earned his first of 117 Ireland caps in 1999. Last month he revealed he plans to retire after the 2013 Lions tour to Australia.